The Sports Truth

Before we begin, some quick division updates:

Atlantic: The worst in the league, with Boston trying to take control from an aging New Jersey team. Central: This Pistons have taken control once again. The Bulls and Bucks are terrible and the Cavs and Pacers are hanging on. Southeast: Orlando has the largest lead in the NBA as the rest of the teams battle the Atlantic in the Greg Oden Sweepstakes.

In the West, we begin with the Northwest, where Utah is hitting its first tough stretch as Denver catches fire. Pacific: Probably the most competitive with the Lakers holding the top spot. Southwest: Spurs, Rockets and Mavericks will be in a dogfight all season.

On to this week’s Sports Truth Power Rankings…

[Current ranking, followed by last week’s ranking in parentheses, followed by team record]

1. (1) Utah (12-3). Only 153 points scored in back-to-back losses. They take on San Antonio tonight, and the L.A. Lakers tomorrow night. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams have been very solid.
2. (2) San Antonio (11-4). They hit the road for Utah tonight. They’ll struggle without Manu Ginobli (right) for a few games.
3. (3) Dallas (10-4). Ten game winning streak and a reasonably soft schedule for the next few weeks.
4. (10) Detroit (9-5). Won six straight as Big Ben bickers in Chicago.
5. (6) Houston (10-4). Yao is playing great, Battier has been huge help and now McGrady gets hurt again.
6. (5) L.A. Lakers (9-5). Bad loss to Milwaukee, but this team is solid with Bynum and Odom playing so well. Can’t say the same for Kwame Brown.
7. (4) Cleveland (9-5). Overrated? Cavs have one “good” win against the Spurs… on November 3. They have feasted on bad teams.
8. (11) Orlando (11-4). The Magic are still being overlooked, but they have the largest division lead in the league. Their loss to Memphis was not as impressive as their win over Utah.
9. (12) Denver (8-5). Nugs looked unstoppable, then they lost to Memphis… at home! Dropped 140 on Golden State… scoring is not an issue.
10. (8) Golden State (9-6). Can’t play defense, but they get up for big games with wins over Utah, San Antonio, Dallas and Detroit already.
11. (13) Sacramento (8-5). Meet Kevin Martin (right). He is from Western Carolina, averages 23 points per game and shoots 53 percent from the field.
12. (14) Phoenix (7-6). 6-1 in their last seven. Still the worst defensive team in the league.
13. (9) LA Clippers (6-7). They’re 0-6 on the road - seriously, they really need to win a few road games.
14. (18) Indiana (8-7). Pacers have lost to Boston, Toronto, Washington, New Jersey and Chicago this year. Guess they are just trying to get the tiebreakers for the lottery.
15. (7) New Orleans/Oklahoma City (8-7). Four-game slide has Chris Paul and the rest of this young team thinking too much.
16. (25) Minnesota (6-8). Quick gambling tip: T-Wolves are 9-4-1 against the spread this year. Other than that, they need to move KG.
17. (23) Seattle (6-9). Rashard Lewis has been a monster. He’ll certainly be the most attractive free agent on the market next summer when he opts out of his contract.
18. (17) Boston (5-8). How do they lose by 24 at home against the Knicks? Just when you think they are taking control of the division, they go and do something like that. First place battle with the Nets tonight!!!
19. (15) New Jersey (5-9). Lost four straight and are fading faster than Jason Kidd’s scoring ability.
20. (16) Philadelphia (5-9). Sixers are 2-9 in their last 11. Philly is getting nothing from guys without the initials A.I.
21. (28) Toronto (5-9). Strange team… six losses against strong teams from the West, but three losses against Atlanta and New Jersey. Maybe this team isn’t that bad. We’ll see.
22. (22) Portland (6-10). Zach Randolph is been very impressive. He’s finally earning his cash.
23. (21) Miami (6-8). Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem are now getting help from Dorrell Wright, but will it be enough? The rest of this team has been terrible.
24. (19) Atlanta (5-7). 1-6 in last 7 and struggling to win games.
25. (20) Washington (5-9). 0-7 on the road. Just not a very good team.
26. (24) Chicago (5-9). Two wins over the Knicks keeps Bulls out of the bottom. Ben Wallace sold his heart for the money.
27. (26) Milwaukee (5-9). Big win over Lakers, but Michael Redd (right) can’t do it all.
28. (27) New York (5-11). Throttled the Celtics on the road, but this team is still a lost cause on defense.
29. (30) Memphis (4-10). Hakim Warrick can play, but he is not enough. Big wins over Denver and Orlando so far this season.
30. (29) Charlotte (4-10). Adam Morrison looks awesome, but he is still a bit inconsistent. Not many teams can say they defeated both San Antonio and Cleveland this season.

His ex-wife may or may not be dating Tony Romo, but Nick Lachey (right) isn’t worried. Instead, he’s got a new game up his sleeve: baseball.

The “What’s Left of Me” singer is officially becoming part owner of the AAA Tacoma Rainiers franchise, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

“It had always been a dream of mine to be involved in sports in general, especially on a local level in your hometown. I’m a huge baseball fan (who) grew up in Cincinnati, and baseball is kind of a religion there,” he told People.

A couple of years ago, when his hometown Cincinnati Reds came up for sale, Lachey tried his best to climb aboard the ownership train — to no avail.

“I made an attempt to become a part of the ownership. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but it certainly reiterated my interest in having some kind of ownership involvement. So, when this opportunity came around, it felt like a great way to get involved,” the former Mr. Jessica Simpson said.

Lachey’s stake actually makes him one-third owner and active investor in the team, alongside Bob Schlegal and Kirby Schlegal. Lachey is also starting an ABA franchise with his pal A.J. DiScala. No word on whether Lachey’s buddy, Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, was asked to join the venture or if he was too busy getting sacked.

Soccer legend Mia Hamm her husband of three years, Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, are expecting twins.

Hamm played on the U.S. women’s national soccer team for 18 years. When she retired after the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Wichita Falls, Tx., native had won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals.

Nomar, meanwhile, sparked the Red Sox to the 2004 title… by being dealt in an 11th-hour, trade deadline megaswap. While he left Boston on bad terms, the Sports Truth’s Red Sox fans who idolized him will always remember the good times, and wish him the best in his future trips to the DL endeavors.

Hamm and the former Boston Red Sox great met at a 1998 charity event and began dating thereafter. They wed in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 2003.

Because of her pregnancy, Hamm recently turned down an invitation to be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in February, telling officials she would accept the honor in 2008 instead.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, a rep for Hamm said her doctor advised her not to travel after January because she is due in early spring.

Hamm and Garciaparra live in Los Angeles, where he joined the Dodgers prior to last year and is expected to sign another contract this offseason. Congratulations to the happy couple, and here’s wishing the whole Hamm family a long, prosperous and injury-free life together.

This year’s Baseball Hall of Fame ballot features Cal Ripken, Jr., and Tony Gwynn, a pair of living legends and virtual locks to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

The ballot also features Mark McGwire, the first big-name Steroid Era star given Hall of Fame consideration, and whose prospects are a bit murkier. Does Big Mac have a chance at being voted in? Yes. But should he?

Not in this fan’s opinion. Granted, all players bear some responsibility for the steroids quagmire, as does the Major League Baseball brain trust. The prevailing attitude was to shut up and reap the benefits. But in McGwire, we have a player guilty of more than a wink and a nod.

This is a slugger who mythically and farcically shattered records. There may never be actual proof, but the circumstantial evidence is unmistakable. We’re all aware of what went on. This is not a court of law and no burden of proof is required (everyone knowing he did it wasn’t enough to put O.J. Simpson away, but in the case of Hall of Fame balloting, it’ll suffice).

As a matter of fact, voters are instructed to consider not just a player’s record and ability, but also integrity, sportsmanship and character. Like MVP balloting, Hall of Fame voting is predicated on subjective judgments. Writers’ dubious votes gave us hotly-debated American League MVP results in each of the last two years, and have kept players out of the Hall that many deem worthy.

Mark McGwire’s place in history is up to the opinion of those selected to vote, and they have every reason to nix him from Cooperstown. Those that feel you cannot reject a player’s candidacy without concrete evidence, or that you would then have to subject every player from the Steroid Era to equal scrutiny, are off base.

Every case must be reviewed differently. This is not about Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero, Jason Giambi or the host of other stars who have been busted for, accused of taking, or have admitted abusing steroids. All it comes down to (at least this year) is Mark McGwire and what writers know - and perceive - about his career.

No, McGwire hasn’t failed a single steroid test we know of. But here are some events from his career and its aftermath that are worth considering in assessing his resume:

1. He used androstenedione, a legal supplement at the time (and illegal now) in 1998, when he destroyed Roger Maris‘ single-season home-run record.
2. Two drug dealers snared in a federal investigation said another dealer provided McGwire with illegal steroids.
3. Jose Canseco accused McGwire of being a juicer.
4. McGwire stonewalled a Congressional committee on the subject.
5. Since the end of his playing career, he has gone quiet, despite his pledge to educate others on the dangers of steroid abuse.

It’s not a stretch to say that by failing to counter the allegations against him, McGwire is effectively admitting responsibility. And for a slugger whose Hall candidacy is based almost entirely on epic power — his 583 career homers are seventh all-time, and his 135 from 1998-1999 were astronomical - that’s a telling sign.

These aren’t baseless claims thrown around by bloggers. We’re talking about asserting Fifth Amendment privileges under oath. McGwire had no choice but to remain silent as he had broken U.S. law and was as tainted as could be. Writers now need to make him pay the price while sending a message to the rest of the league that cheating will no longer be rewarded. Baseball’s integrity won’t be restored overnight, but a small step in the right direction would certainly help the cause.

And the editors of the Sports Truth thought we needed to see psychologists for our sports betting addiction after we wagered cash on a pair of U.S. Senate races.

Yes, the headline you read above is true. A man killed his friend with a rifle in a dispute over a $20 bet on the South Carolina-Clemson game, authorities said Sunday. James Walter Quick, 42, has been charged in the shooting of Richard Allen Johnson, 43, who died from a single shot to the chest.

Quick and Johnson watched the game Saturday at Johnson’s home in Lexington, S.C., about 100 miles south of Charlotte. Quick took South Carolina, while Johnson took Clemson, straight up. The Gamecocks came from behind and won, 31-28.

Quick celebrated.

Johnson said the Tigers “shouldn’t have lost” and refused to pay.

Quick left the house and retrieved a high-powered rifle from his Chevrolet Corsica.

“He went back in and told Richard, ‘I want my money or I’m going to shoot you,’” said Lexington County Sheriff James Metts, adding that both (stunningly) had been drinking beer.

Johnson’s wife and several friends told police that Johnson retorted: “You can’t shoot me, I’m invisible.”

Quick replied, “No you’re not.”

Deputies arrived on the scene and charged Quick with murder and possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. He was leaning against his Corsica, with arms crossed, when police arrived. The men had gone deer hunting together the morning of the shooting and were dressed in camouflage as they watched the game with friends.

Quick and Johnson met a couple of years ago after their wives became good friends. Soon they were inviting each other over for cookouts and to watch games, Quick’s mother and sister told the Charlotte Observer.

Quick didn’t attend USC but always supported the team, said Quick’s mother, who declined to give her name. He usually watched games on TV but sometimes went to the stadium. He also enjoyed playing football with his children, ages 14 and 7.

“You just hear so much commotion about the Gamecocks,” she said. “It’s state loyalty.”

What happened is “totally out of his nature,” his sister, Anne Marie Quick, said.

You mean he didn’t typically murder other humans over football bets? Really?

Let this be a lesson to all you compulsive gamblers to pay up after you lose a bet, regardless of whether your team loses fair and square. But in the event that your friend refuses to cough up $20, it’s probably a tad extreme to take his life. Even if we’re talking about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

Following in the footsteps of Curtis Granderson and a thuggish Baltimore Ravens crew, Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand (pictured, with Smackdown general manager Teddy Long), an avid pro wrestling fan, was in attendance when WWE’s Survivor Series rolled into the City of Brotherly love.

He had the following to say regarding the WWE event:

“You see how much [the Superstars] get out there, how physical they really are… You get your money’s worth when you come. You see the world of hurt these people actually go through.”

[Cue The Pundit’s Patented Loud Booming Voice & Pulsing Intro Music and Pyrotechnics]

Let the BCS dramatics begin, college football fans. Ohio State and Michigan played a fairly entertaining game that was supposed to settle at least one slot in the national title game. Check. Everyone assumed that if Florida, USC, Arkansas, and Notre Dame all managed to win, one of these teams would leapfrog (albeit probably temporarily) Michigan in the BCS standings.

Well, fellow rabid football fans the crock that is the BCS continues! All of the so-called second-tier teams won and Michigan is still ranked #2! Even the Pundit thinks USC got shafted on this one and loyal readers know that the Pundit is not the biggest fan of the Trojans! Anyone else think the national playoff movement just got a big boost?

On a side note, did the Pundit mention that he is now 38-10 for the year and called the OSU-Michigan and Florida spreads this past weekend? Is the Pundit the man or what? Lucas Dwyer only wishes he could wear the Pundit’s jock when he makes his evermore feeble attempts to call NFL games for this Atari-in-a-world-of-Playstations website.

[Cue the Drum Roll]

THE PUNDIT’S POWER FIVE

1. Ohio State. Beats the Wolverines, 41-38, to earn a spot in the National Title game.
Next week’s opponent: Idle.

2. USC. They beat up California again. Somehow the Pundit thinks this week’s opponent will provide a more interesting game.
Next week’s opponent: Notre Dame
Prediction: This game is statement game for both teams. USC has to win big to jump Michigan in the standings, while Notre Dame has to win big to convince as many voters as possible that they are better than their inconsistent defense and offense has shown this year. This is also about payback for Notre Dame since ol’ Matt Leinart took them out of the national title game last year with one of the most amazing plays the Pundit has ever seen. It’s a home game for the Trojans, but the Pundit likes the upset. Irish by 10.

3. Florida. Western Carolina Panthers… did they even take the field?
Next week’s opponent: Florida State.
Prediction: Like Arkansas, Florida has a dangerous finish before the SEC title game. The Seminoles aren’t as good as they used to be but this is one of the best rivalries in football. The Pundit has not been impressed by the Gators of late and likes the upset again. Seminoles by a TD.

4. Arkansas. They beat up on Croom and company but not as bad as expected. Didn’t help themselves in this one at all.
Next Week’s Opponent: LSU
Prediction: This is a dangerous finish for the Razorbacks. The Tigers are hot and looking to sneak into a bigger bowl game. The Pundit likes the explosive Tigers to muddle up the BCS by upsetting Arkansas by three in the fourth quarter.

5. Michigan. The Wolverines gave the Buckeyes their best shot and lucked out with the #2 slot. Happy Birthday!
Next Week’s Opponent: Idle.

Teams Most Likely to Break Into the Top Five: The field is thinning out even more. Louisville… if they get all the upsets listed above. Um, no other team matters at this point. Sorry. Not.

NOTE: Unfortunately for the rabid Pundit readership (which is probably the only thing keeping this lame, chimp-edited site alive), the Pundit can only drop half of his knowledge this week due to time constraints. The Pundit didn’t want to miss another big week though. Holla!

It’s been almost a week since we witnessed what was billed to be The Game of the Century, and I finally feel ready to talk about it. Few would argue that the game did not live up to the hype. Anytime you have the top two teams in the nation battle in a three-point game, you have some great TV.

As a Michigan fan, I came into the game with mixed emotions. First, for about seven days leading up to last Saturday, I felt like I could throw up at any minute. The magnitude of this game and what it meant to us was almost unbearable.

The Wolverines were a disappointing 7-5 last year, including a bowl loss to the completely overrated Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Ohio State game gave us the opportunity of a lifetime. Vindication. Redemption after we gave the Buckeyes the game last year. And most importantly, a shot at the National Championship.

Surely if we went 12-0, there wasn’t a team in country that could stop us. USC? Ha. They couldn’t even beat Oregon State. Arkansas? Did you see what USC did to them? Florida? Surely you’re joking. The quarterback situation there is sure to ruin them eventually. I’m sorry, did someone say Notre Dame? For some reason, the numbers 47-21 come to mind… in South Bend!

The more we run through these scenarios, the more overwhelmed we become at the opportunity we have before us. We could be National Champions once more!

Then the slap in the face - more commonly known as reality - brings us back to earth. The scenarios are all dandy, but the problem is we have one game left to play. And not just any game… The Game.

The one we look forward to every year because of the pride it can bring us and the pain it can force us to come to terms with. Plus, this year was a little different. This was no ordinary Ohio State team. This was no longer the Buckeye team we could make fun of because of Maurice Clarett. He’s moved onto bigger and badder things in his life. This Buckeye team was a force. A Heisman lock at QB. A lightning-quick receiving corps that make a 4.4-forty time look pedestrian. A defense more intimidating than last year. And finally, a coach that has broken our hearts more times than we care to remember.

Suddenly, the room is closing in on us. We’re getting short of breath. Not only to we have to play the best Buckeye team we can remember, but we have to do it on their field, with their fans, and their stupid coach who has not given us one ounce of gratification since he got there.

To top it all off, the king of our storied institution - the guy that made us what we were and helped make this rivalry what it is - passed away the day before the game. We would be playing with extra motivation, of course, but also with heavy hearts because of this enormous loss. By now, the adrenaline that was making our hearts beat so fast had turned to fear and doubt.

Writing this means rehashing a feeling that I hoped I wouldn’t have for at least another 360-some days. Needless to say, the six days before the game were filled with the same feelings. It would be a waste of time to discuss those, but do know that it’s possible I lost 5-10 pounds because of all the pacing.

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In honor of the family tradition of Thanksgiving, we’re live from the columnist’s parent’s house for our Week 12 edition of the Sports Truth’s NFL picks. Working conditions are far from ideal, working on an aging PC instead of the luxury of every writer’s best friend, the laptop.

At the same time, we’re keeping the Thanksgiving theme going by supporting the family college, Siena (where father, brother, and sister all graduated and the patriarch still teaches), in its effort to win its first game of the year vs. Dartmouth in men’s hoops by listening to the game on Internet radio. It’s being broadcast by WROW out of Albany, N.Y. and your play-by-play man, “The General” Robert Lee. No joke, that’s his name - he’s even referred to by the moniker “The General.” They don’t call him Robert E. Lee, in case you’re curious.

Siena has been very disappointing so far this season, losing predictably at Stanford, but also playing an awful game at Holy Cross this past Saturday. Your humble writer was in attendance and not impressed. Siena’s offense was ultimately non-existent as the Saints were somewhat flummoxed by Holy Cross’s relatively standard 2-3 zone defense. Maybe yours truly should be sent in to teach the 2-3 zone offense currently employed (and blatantly stolen from Sports Truth founder Levi Matthews) in two recreational basketball leagues.

Interesting side note: Dartmouth lost its last game to the de facto Sports Truth alma mater, Colgate, a perennially mediocre team. Some of us at the Truth have been advocating, albeit quietly, the removal of Colgate coach Emmett Davis. He’s an awful, boring coach and in the nine years we’ve been affiliated with the school, Colgate has never even made the conference finals. Haven’t been able to watch them on TV. Ever. Thanks Emmett.

Currently, it’s 23-17 Dartmouth, with 13:05 to go in the 1st half. On to this week’s picks.

[Home team in CAPS. Spreads accurate as of Friday, 5:30 EST]

LAST WEEK: 6-9-1 SEASON: 72-82-7 LUKE’S LOCKS™: 1-5

Tampa Bay (+11) over DALLAS
Five of Dallas’s six wins this year have been by over 11 points, but this is still the year of the underdog and despite a blip in the radar last week, we’re not giving up on that theory just yet.

DETROIT (+3) over Miami
The ever popular home underdog and two teams going in different directions. I have nothing else to say here (how depressing for a Thanksgiving game), so here are some more thoughts on Siena College hoops:

Paul Hewitt is currently coach of Georgia Tech and has had great success since taking over the program several years ago, including a NCAA Finals appearance. Those at the Sports Truth and from New York’s Captiol District know that before his stint at Georgia Tech, Hewitt was a very successful coach at… you guessed it, Siena. Last night, #19 Georgia Tech was playing #11 Memphis in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational and rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to win, 92-85.

As an observer of both Siena and Georgia Tech under the reigns of Hewitt, one notices a drastic difference in coaching style. At Siena, Hewitt installed a brand of basketball designed to give his team a chance to win. However, at Georgia Tech, Hewitt’s offenses have been geared around the best players on the team, and rightly so. Considering his relatively equal success at each school, one could argue that coaching is more important at the lower levels of college basketball.

SCORE UPDATE: Dartmouth 30, Siena 27, 8:07 left in the first half.

KANSAS CITY (-1.5) over Denver
It may be the year of the underdog, but Kansas City is brutal at home and Jake Plummer (right) looks awful. Amazing that you can have a playoff team, and a decent one at that, led by a terrible quarterback.

SCORE UPDATE: All square at the half, 32-32. Alex Franklin leads Siena scorers with nine. The patriarch just walked in to announce that the game was tied at half. Apparently the Internet broadcast is about two minutes behind his radio broadcast. Meanwhile, Colgate trails Canisius, 39-33 at half.

Jacksonville (-3) at BUFFALO
Per our tradition enacted last week, the Jags will be tails and the Bills heads:

Flip #1: Heads! Bills lead, 1-0.
Flip #2: Heads! Bills win, 2-0
The Pick: Buffalo (+3)

SCORE UPDATE: Dartmouth 43, Siena 38, 15:57 left in the game.

Houston (+6) over NEW YORK JETS
As much as the NFL and it’s underdogs have given us migraine headaches all year in their unpredictability, we really should have seen what was coming with quarterbacks like Michael Vick and Chad Pennington. After a nice start to the season, Chad has coming come crashing back to earth like a meteor.

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Dallas and Detroit are starting to return to form as they continue their climb in our rankings. Meanwhile, teams that got off to a surprising start (Atlanta, Portland and Philadelphia) are continuing to fall back where they belong. Utah is for real! The Jazz are young and have not missed a beat following the injury to AK-47.

The East, meanwhile, appears as wide open as ever with Miami struggling, Chicago off to a horrendous start, and New Jersey exhibiting poor play all around. Believe it or not, the best team over the last week may have been the Boston Celtics. We’ll see if that lasts. On to this week’s Sports Truth Power Rankings…

[Current ranking, followed by last week’s ranking in parentheses, followed by team record]

1. (2) Utah (10-1). Note to Doc Rivers: The youth movement can work. Jazz start Miles, Williams and Brewer with Millsap off the bench. The league should be scared.
2. (1) San Antonio (9-2). Only undefeated road team in the league.
3. (8) Dallas (7-4). Won seven straight, early struggles are over.
4. (4) Cleveland (8-3). Still cruising through the East.
5. (11) LA Lakers (8-3). Andrew Bynum (right) is scary-good.
6. (5) Houston (7-4). Rafer Alston isn’t a cancer yet.
7. (12) New Orleans/Oklahoma City (8-3). Chris Paul and Peja Stojakovic keep rolling.
8. (6) Golden State (7-4). Another team that went young… Ellis, Biedrins and Pietrus can play.
9. (3) LA Clippers (6-3). 0-3 on the road… they’ll need at least a few road wins.
10. (21) Detroit (6-5). Defense is vastly improved over first two weeks.
11. (10) Orlando (7-4). Dwight Howard has three 20+ rebounding games already; loss to Memphis was disappointing.
12. (9) Denver (5-4). J.R. Smith has found a home… his 36 against Chicago was fun to watch.
13. (7) Sacramento (5-4). Next eight games all come against quality teams… let’s see what this team is made of.
14. (18) Phoenix (4-6). Still treading water. Good teams don’t give up 108.1 points per game.
15. (15) New Jersey (5-5). Inconsistent squad. Depending on Jason Kidd and Vince Carter every night is a crapshoot. Loss of Richard Jefferson does not make it easier, but Antoine Wright is stepping up.
16. (23) Philadelphia (4-6). 1-6 in their last seven. Willie Green and Kevin Ollie combined to play 68 minutes against Detroit — that is never good.
17. (28) Boston (4-6). Highest scoring team in the East might be starting to click. Rajon Rondo and Sebastian Telfair are getting better every night out.
18. (14) Indiana (6-5). I’m not sensing any real confidence out of this group of thugs.
19. (13) Atlanta (4-4). How many rainouts has this team had? Three straight losses are bringing the Hawks back down to Earth… or wherever the Knicks are currently located.
20. (16) Washington (4-6). 0-5 on the road. Gilbert Arenas (pictured) is this generation’s version of Bernard King: great scorer on a terrible team.
21. (20) Miami (4-6). Could they fall to the lottery and replace a retired Shaq with Greg Oden? A bit early for lottery talk, but this team does not have it.
22. (19) Portland (5-7). Another team that got off to a fast start and is now plummeting.
23. (17) Seattle (5-7). They beat the teams they should beat, but fall to the average and above average teams. They’ll need a few big wins if they want to make any ground in the West.
24. (22) Chicago (3-8). Ben Wallace has made a huge impact. Unfortunately, it’s on the offense. The Bulls are scoring just 95 points per game. In their defense, they have played eight of 11 games on the road (1-7) thus far.
25. (25) Minnesota (3-6). Only Miami and Charlotte score less than the Timberwolves.
26. (24) Milwaukee (3-8). Who would have thought the Charlie Villanueva for T.J. Ford trade would have hurt the Bucks so much.
27. (27) New York (4-8). This team has no direction or identity. Seven different players have led them in scoring this year.
28. (26) Toronto (2-8). I still think they had a good draft and they brought in the right players, but they are just playing out the season and hoping they can get a solid free agent to move North.
29. (30) Charlotte (2-8). Emeka Okafor and Adam Morrison have been brilliant, but Gerald Wallace has not been found.
30. (29) Memphis (2-9). 0-6 on the road, toughest division in the league, and they are not improving.